Respironics - Encore Viewer will be available in October(?)

Sasquatchbreath · Post by **Sasquatchbreath** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:47 pm

You want the most shocking thing?

My DME dealer is Apria.

It comes down to the specific RT. Mine is really good.

The increase in pressure has made my Swift II too loud for me. He is working on my insurance company to get them to approve an activa or Soyola mask several months earlier than they normally would approve it.

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:53 pm

Hi Folks,

Encore Viewer is indeed a real product. I spoke with John Goodman (Big John) today and he told me that he has worked closely with Respironics to get this to market. An official release date at this moment is unknown, and exact details are currently not available for me to post. The good news is that Encore Viewer "IS" coming, and patients will be able to once again view their data.

I say bravo to Big John and Respironics for listening to our message board, and moving forward with an extremely useful tool for sleep breathing disorder patients.

It is my opinion that this separates Respironics from Resmed. Resmed has raised pricing and stopped the sale of software. Respironics has shown good will to the people who make them a prosperous company. They have kept Internet pricing reasonable, and soon will be offering a patient data tool that most feel is invaluable. I applaud Respironics for keeping an eye out for us.

Ted the Titrator

Nodzy · Post by **Nodzy** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:05 pm

Titrator wrote:Hi Folks,

Encore Viewer is indeed a real product. I spoke with John Goodman (Big John) today and he told me that he has worked closely with Respironics to get this to market. An official release date at this moment is unknown, and exact details are currently not available for me to post. The good news is that Encore Viewer "IS" coming, and patients will be able to once again view their data.

I say bravo to Big John and Respironics for listening to our message board, and moving forward with an extremely useful tool for sleep breathing disorder patients.

It is my opinion that this separates Respironics from Resmed. Resmed has raised pricing and stopped the sale of software. Respironics has shown good will to the people who make them a prosperous company. They have kept Internet pricing reasonable, and soon will be offering a patient data tool that most feel is invaluable. I applaud Respironics for keeping an eye out for us.

Ted the Titrator

Ted,

I applaud John Goodman and Respironics for the effort.... and you, Ted, for relating the positive and encouraging information about a much needed tool for tens-of-thousands or more proactive patients to use in their therapy.

Hopefully Encore Viewer will be no less versatile than Encore Pro in revealing the data, the storage of the patient data files and offering export of patient-selected data by day or multiple days from any stored data file, etc to multiple file formats for on-paper viewing – much like Encore Pro can do.

Nodzy

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:20 pm

I second that! I was afraid it was just "Vaporware", or HYPE, even better if it just came bundled with the machines that used it. CD's cost $ .25. Considering the pricing of Resmed's products it would be a big plus for sales, putting them another step ahead of the pack. Jim

On another front, "Keep producing the "Tank".

roster · Post by **roster** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:37 pm

Amen

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:26 pm

Thanks for the update, Ted. If this happens I'll become very loyal to them. I have a bunch of people I know who will be getting cpaps within the next 6 months, I hope. This means that they can get good machines with software. I plan to work with each of them to help them learn what the software means, etc. Most aren't internet savvy. What would be really helpful would be a good patient manual.

Goofproof wrote:On another front, "Keep producing the "Tank".

Yep, yep, yep! The person I'm working with who is getting one in the next month will be getting a tank (Pro2) if her doctor is willing. I think he will be. Why? Because of the "tank" on the tank. That is, the humidifier chamber is something she will be able to manage. I'm sure she'd be very frustrated by the M-series. This is someone who is elderly and her coordination in doing things like filling the humidifier chamber without spilling, etc. is not all that great. I also believe that it will be a more stable machine for her, less likely to be pulled off the nightstand than the mseries.

Highnote · Post by **Highnote** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:43 pm

Titrator wrote:Hi Folks,

Encore Viewer is indeed a real product. I spoke with John Goodman (Big John) today and he told me that he has worked closely with Respironics to get this to market.

THANK YOU to our hosts for going to bat. This kind of attitude is good for the customers and good for the business, everybody wins.

I would LOVE to know why Respironics & Resmed pulled the software in the first place.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:48 pm

Highnote wrote: I would LOVE to know why Respironics & Resmed pulled the software in the first place.

This is just my speculation, I have no inside source and this is not based on any statements from either Respironics or ResMed.

I wonder if their tame lawyers suggested that there was a liability issue with patients having a piece of software that allowed them change the pressures and other options? You could do this via options that allowed one to write info on the card that would change settings when inserted into the machine, in effect writing a new prescription.

It would seem that that is exactly the problem Respironics is trying to step around by producing the 'Viewer' that allows one to see the data collected but not give the option of creating a 'change settings' card.

Just my 57 cents worth.

_

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:15 pm

My opinion is that the reason they withdrew the software was "market related." I suspect that their primary customers (DME's and MD's) were beginning to howl about end users who refused to be "bovinely compliant livestock." I believe that they look at those of us who use software as a PITA.

I hope that the "Viewer" software will give us the same info we get in 1.8 and not be "watered down" so much that it's useless for those of us who carefully manage our own treatment.

Panhandler · Post by **Panhandler** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:33 pm

I doubt we'll ever know for sure, but I'd bet it's the liability issue. The market-driven theory might have a slight impact on it, but a single wrongful death suit could cost millions to defend, even if they won.

goose · Post by **goose** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:29 pm

Thanks for the update Ted. That is good news.

However, I agree totally with RG in that it needs to show us everything we have today....I really don't care if the software will change the pressure - it's convenient yes, but not a requirement -- I also have my doubts about it being "Illegal" to do so....any lawyers on the forum that would want to tackle that one???
I tend to believe it was 100% market driven (DME's and Doc's whining) more than legal driven -- but that's just my gut feeling.

Over the months I've developed a good relationship with my DME. When last we talked (a week or so ago when she called to check on my supplies). She just acknowledged that I've been taking care of my own machine, so I didn't need an appointment -- they just shipped the supplies I needed with my new mask. I make sure they have a copy of all the doctors changes to my script.
When I first started with them and mentioned the software, the RT kind of looked shocked and asked me where I had gotten it.....I basically said, "Noneya" and the subject was dropped.

Generally I won't make a change without the knowledge of the doctor, but I'll admit to doing so. The doc knows, but sometimes after the fact.....If she were to give me an argument not to change, I'd probably not do the change. I have a very good doctor who accepts my control over my treatment and I wouldn't want to violate that relationship. We've had very good conversations!!

I also feel that the software should be made available at no charge WITH the machine -- if you want to use it, fine, if not, leave it in the box.....part of the cost of the hardware (and should be distributed via download to anyone who wants it -- like those of us that already have our machines)

Mi dos centavos.......

cheers
goose

roster · Post by **roster** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:47 am

Bookbear wrote:............

I wonder if their tame lawyers suggested that there was a liability issue with patients having a piece of software that allowed them change the pressures and other options? ........

That's my guess also.

Next question is how long before these "tame" lawyers figure out the cpap patient community largely knows how to access the setup menu on the machine and change the settings without the provider software? Then they will find a way to prevent patients from doing this!!!

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:54 am

I suspect that it would reasonably easy for them to put some sort of lock on a machine that only a dme would have a key or code for.

Roadie · Post by **Roadie** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:02 am

When the software becomes available I will most likely get it. Sure, I hope the cost is low, and I would like it to be bundled with new machines. As far as the reason for the tight controls Respironics has placed on Encore Pro, well that is their business. If they want to control who can get the software there is nothing I can do about it short of complaining.

The viewer software sounds like a really good product, I can only hope that it is fully featured, if they remove the ability to change the machine settings, fine. If I want to change the settings that is easy enough. Since I paid for my machine myself what I do with it is my business. If the CPAP police break in to my home and arrest me it will prove to be a really interesting court case. I want to be able to view the data to be able to see how my therapy is working with my body, and frankly the snippet of information porvided on the screen of my machine is just not enough.

I hope the data file is compatible with James Skinners "Encore Pro analyzer" software since that looks like a better way to view the data than the actual Encore Pro software.

Roadie

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:23 pm

rooster wrote:
Bookbear wrote:............

I wonder if their tame lawyers suggested that there was a liability issue with patients having a piece of software that allowed them change the pressures and other options? ........
That's my guess also.

Next question is how long before these "tame" lawyers figure out the cpap patient community largely knows how to access the setup menu on the machine and change the settings without the provider software? Then they will find a way to prevent patients from doing this!!!

I'm not sure it's the same issue. I don't think they care about us changing the settings, they just don't want liability for us changing the settings. It's just a CYA thing. If someone who didn't understand the software inadvertently changed their settings, what then? The company could be held liable. (I don't know how to change my settings via software, so maybe this isn't possible).

I'm hoping that the new software will work with the latest Windows software. I don't have it, but I'm recommending to a friend that he get a respironics data capable machine once the software comes out. He has the latest windows version.

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4